Samsung Galaxy Note 4

[Brian Stirling]

I've been tempted by the Note since it first came out but for one reason or another I've either decided to wait for a later model or chosen another phone instead. I've been a champion of the larger phones since the HTC Evo 4G while most were still laughing at the then 4.3 inch phones as being too big. When the Note came out the laughter at the idea you would put one up to your ear to make a phone call was rampant.

But then the Note sold 10M right off the bat and now the average smartphone is near 5 inch with Apple set, apparently, to release two phones -- one at 4.7 inch and the other at 5.5 inch. Time have changed haven't they...

So, we're nearing the release of the next Note and I'm seriously thinking about making the jump when it does or sometime after the release. My current phone, the HTC One (first model), has a 4.7 inch screen and I comfortably keep that in my front pants pocket so although the Note 4 will be larger, the minimized bezels make it only a bit larger.

For me, the true selling feature of the Note is the stylus, or S-pen, and it's for this reason I'm leaning towards the Note as opposed to the other phablets out there. Having uSD storage is critical FOR ME, and having a removable back and battery is also nice even if it isn't a deal breaker -- so long as the battery is big enough and lasts long enough.

Here's hoping it comes with Android L giving even better battery life. With a device like the Note that begs to be used heavily battery life is huge so a combination of large battery and improved battery life with L might finally offer a phone that can truly be used all day long and when used moderately, last for days.

What do the rest of you think of the Note and particularly the Note 4?


Brian

 

[rh71]

My Note 3 lasted 2 days used moderately - even with 4G on whenever outdoors - until 4.4.2 took over (from 4.3). Now it's anywhere between 1 and 1.5 days which is disappointing given that I know it can be done. Hopefully it gets Android L which fixes it but I'm not holding my breath. Curious what the Note 4 would do with 4.4.2. Larger capacity (and bulkier) battery? I don't know if I'd want that.

I thought the extra SD card storage would benefit me too but there's really no way to secure it without having to enter a long password every time you want to access your phone and that's just too much of a pain throughout the day. Apps like Safe Area which unlock if you're in a familiar wifi area don't work with encryption (it disables it if you try). My 64gb SD card is pretty much unused. Even moving apps over to it (via the app manager) doesn't seem to put the majority of the file size on there. Kind of pointless.

S-pen. Well, coincidentally I used it today to draw something for my kids so they could describe something to me. Other than that, I've needed it 0 times in the few months I've had the Note.

Still, I like the phablet idea. We just got a mini ipad too and I'd rather have the Note in my pocket and anywhere in the house. It's a bit cumbersome bringing it out unless you're in cargo pants. Even jeans it's a tough fit. Small price to pay for having a nice screen to look at anywhere you are.

 

[cronos]

When you had your EVO 4G, I was already carrying around a 5" Dell Streak so I've been a big fan of large screen for a long time as well. People looked at me funny whenever I pulled it out in public, but I absolutely loved it and used it for almost 3 years. Coincidentally I too am carrying an HTC One M7 now. After the Streak I thought I'd want something a tad smaller and lighter and the M7 has been perfect.

Anyway, the Galaxy Note series has been one of the more consistently good and increasingly better phones (the first is the worst of the bunch, and it always got better), so I'm sure the 4th generation will be just as if not even more awesome. I don't know if I would have any use for the pen on my phone, actually. I do have a Note 8 tablet with pen that I use a lot, but I imagine on a phone the use cases will be completely different.

I haven't seen any leaks about the Note 4 (has there been any?), but I'm sure Samsung won't disappoint. I personally won't be getting it, but it's always fun to see the next generation of this series come out.

 

[ControlD]

I have seen a few "leaks" in regards to the Note 4. In particular, rumored specs are as follows:

- 2560x1440
- 3GB RAM
- 32GB onboard storage
- 16MP rear / 3.68MP front camera
- a couple of different processors, including an 8-core unit

I will be tempted to upgrade from my Note 2 I'm sure, but only if the bootloader can be unlocked and being on Verizon that's a slim chance at best. If not I will just keep rolling with the N2 until it dies. With alternate ROMs my phone still has more than adequate performance.

 

[KentState]

My Note 2 was my favorite phone. Unfortunately, I dropped it and cracked the screen. I would love to get a new version, except work pays for my phone and I just got the S5. It's not bad, but wouldn't mind a little more screen.

 

[openwheel]

I switch phones all the time and Note 3 has been absolutely perfection for me. Love it.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I bounce between the Nexus 5 and Note 3. And I just got the Note 3 a few months back on contract, so will probably stick with it since it's getting really hard to spend $700 on a phone when you have cool stuff coming like the OnePlus One.

Also the special feature of the Note, it's pen, ended up not being something I use much. I used it at first for taking quick notes. But I found the S Note app to be pretty terrible and I really wish I could use OneNote for note taking on Android. So the pen stays in it's silo now.

I was really worried if that 5.7 inch phone would be pocketable and it ended up fitting just fine in my pockets. So I'm pretty happy with the phone. And love the AMOLED display.

 

[RockinZ28]

Will be pre-ordering. Note 2 has been great, ready for something with a bit more power. Blew both my upgrades in 6 months for the SGS3 and Note 2, will be going back to the yearly cycle this time. Long as I can still do the upgrade tricks to keep unlimited data on verizon.

 

[Oric]

I stopped using pocket size notebooks after i started using note 3. The stylus is very convenient.

 

[DeathReborn]

With the new Exynos ModAP (built in LTE Cat 4, yay) supposedly the CPU of choice I just hope they are based on 64 bit Armv8 and at least Mali-T7xx (or equivalent PowerVR etc).

Finally going to be upgrading from a Galaxy S3 (non LTE) and decided to skip the S5 as it was overpriced & still 1080p.

 

[Dari]

If LG had to lower the brightness to get craptastic battery life out of their 2560*1440 LCD phone, I'd hate to see how much worse the brightness can be on an OLED. But, I hear that Samsung has a special version of their GS5 with the same resolution for sale in S. Korea so someone out there has an answer to that question.

Also, I will never understand what people see in a stylus. It's so much worse than just using your fingers and easy to lose.

 

[Chocu1a]

If LG had to lower the brightness to get craptastic battery life out of their 2560*1440 LCD phone, I'd hate to see how much worse the brightness can be on an OLED. But, I hear that Samsung has a special version of their GS5 with the same resolution for sale in S. Korea so someone out there has an answer to that question.

Also, I will never understand what people see in a stylus. It's so much worse than just using your fingers and easy to lose.

You must be high? The S-Pen is precise & exact like using an ink pen. Using your finger is clumsy & sloppy compared. Also, Having owned the Note 2 & currently 3, I have never misplaced the pen, because it has a built in slot for it.

Anyway, Unless the Note 4 can give me a hand-job in the parking lot, I will skip it. My Note 3 is just about the perfect device.

 

[Red Storm]

The Note line has consistently improved a good deal with each iteration. I really loved the Note 3 while I had it (ended up giving it to my dad who prefers large screens), but I just do not like Touchwiz or all the bloat Samsung and the carriers love to bundle with their devices. Still, I have eye open for any news on the Note 4, despite my gripes with the software the Note line is always under consideration by me.

 

[rh71]

Anyway, Unless the Note 4 can give me a hand-job in the parking lot, I will skip it. My Note 3 is just about the perfect device.

I can see the Samsung vs. Apple commercial for it now... Apple users will be a sad bunch when this feature comes out for sure.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I do hope now that Apple is copying Samsung with larger phones that they finally give there lawyers a break and stop the never ending suits against Samsung. But, if history is a guide we might see Apple attempt to claim ownership of phablets to. I hope not but I'd not be surprised one bit.

I'd like to see how useful the s-pen is beyond the purpose built apps made for it. Specifically, I have the AutoCAD viewer app but its unweildy with a finger and wonder if the s-pen might make that app and others like it more useful.


Brian

 

[Red Storm]

I do hope now that Apple is copying Samsung with larger phones that they finally give there lawyers a break and stop the never ending suits against Samsung. But, if history is a guide we might see Apple attempt to claim ownership of phablets to. I hope not but I'd not be surprised one bit.

I'd like to see how useful the s-pen is beyond the purpose built apps made for it. Specifically, I have the AutoCAD viewer app but its unweildy with a finger and wonder if the s-pen might make that app and others like it more useful.


Brian

I found web browsing with the pen was nice. It's more accurate than a finger, especially because it would highlight links and whatnot while hovering the pen over the screen.

 

[rh71]

I found web browsing with the pen was nice. It's more accurate than a finger, especially because it would highlight links and whatnot while hovering the pen over the screen.

IMO too cumbersome with having to switch to finger typing and back to pen navigating. I just do a quick pinch to zoom if I have to click on something small.

 

[Red Storm]

IMO too cumbersome with having to switch to finger typing and back to pen navigating. I just do a quick pinch to zoom if I have to click on something small.

No need to switch, I found the pen to be perfectly suited to swipe style typing, there's also the handwriting modes too.

 

[dawheat]

I've been disappointed in the early reviewers with the S5 LTE-A as they don't give much information about the screen compared to the S5 screen.

In general however, I haven't heard or read of any brightness issues when side by side with the S5, and some comments that whites actually seem even whiter than the already very good S5. Also, an unprofessional side by side battery test in one review with both devices running the exact same content showed very similar battery life.

If that's the case, it could be the AMOLED screens have an advantage as resolution ramps up in that it doesn't increase power draw as much as LCDs, or the S805 is a bit more efficent than the S801.

If the Note 4 1440p screen has similar brightness to the S5 with a 1440p 5.7" to 5.9" screen, that'll be pretty awesome. S-pen has it's uses (albeit limited) but I don't see much downside to having the option to use it. It doesn't add much weight and the phone is already quite slim - so I prefer having the option to use it occasionally.

Also - the difference from the S800 to the S801 and even the S805 have been surprisingly small when it comes to performance. I wonder if it's actually opening up the door to a new Exynos SOC to actually outperform the S805.

 

[Zaap]

I can't wait to see what the Note 4 brings. Unless Samsung completely screws it up somehow, I'll almost certainly have one, either sooner as an immediate replacement for my Note 3, or later as a natural upgrade.

My only want is even less bezels or completely bezel-less. (And before the fat-thumbs crowd chimes: it's prefectly workable to have a virtual-bezel of non-touch active pixels along the screen edges, rather than a physical bezel.)

Concepts I've seen so far are pretty out there, not holding my breath for anything so radical:

Whatever they do, I hope no gimmicks like rounded/curved/flexible screens unless there's something that would really add function to the device without sacraficing the Note's killer good looks.

Chances are, it'll mostly just be a ho-hum "large S5" type update, knowing Samsung.

 

[Red Storm]

I think the current shape they have now is perfect (I hate super round corners like the S3 had), just need to work away those bezels so it's even more screen.

 

[shabby]

Chances are, it'll mostly just be a ho-hum "large S5" type update, knowing Samsung.

Pretty much, i imagine simply a waterproof note3 with 1440p screen + fingerprint reader.

 

[Sunburn74]

Honestly all I want is for the next 8inch note tab to be released.

 

[Zaap]

Pretty much, i imagine simply a waterproof note3 with 1440p screen + fingerprint reader.

I sure hope not. To me, easily the most useless "feature" (gimmick) ever put on smartphones. But I guess it's probably a given.

 

[Bateluer]

I can't wait to see what the Note 4 brings. Unless Samsung completely screws it up somehow, I'll almost certainly have one, either sooner as an immediate replacement for my Note 3, or later as a natural upgrade.

My only want is even less bezels or completely bezel-less. (And before the fat-thumbs crowd chimes: it's prefectly workable to have a virtual-bezel of non-touch active pixels along the screen edges, rather than a physical bezel.)

Concepts I've seen so far are pretty out there, not holding my breath for anything so radical:

Whatever they do, I hope no gimmicks like rounded/curved/flexible screens unless there's something that would really add function to the device without sacraficing the Note's killer good looks.

Chances are, it'll mostly just be a ho-hum "large S5" type update, knowing Samsung.

I'm pretty sure all the concept renders are total, complete BS. Especially that middle right one, with zero bezel at all.